Yorkshire power station developer behind plans to build world's first commercial liquid air battery

A Yorkshire power station developer is behind plans to build what is believed to be the world's first commercial liquid air battery which will store excess renewable electricity.
Yorkshire power station developer, Carlton Power, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Highview Power Storage to build and operate the worlds first commercial liquid air storage systemYorkshire power station developer, Carlton Power, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Highview Power Storage to build and operate the worlds first commercial liquid air storage system
Yorkshire power station developer, Carlton Power, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Highview Power Storage to build and operate the worlds first commercial liquid air storage system

Carlton Power, based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Highview Power Storage, to build and operate the 250MWh battery storage system.

The two companies have created a joint-venture company, named Carlton Highview Storage, to build the CRYOBattery, which aims to help the UK make the most of the energy generated from its solar and wind sectors.

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The UK is now home to the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and a third of the country’s electricity needs are now met from renewable sources. But the unpredictable nature of wind and solar power means that energy can be produced when it is not needed by the grid.

The CryoBattery, which is expected to be the largest battery storage system of its kind in Europe, offers a means of storing that excess energy and will do so on a far larger scale and for longer than existing batteries. It will be able to power up to 200,000 homes for five hours, and store power for weeks.

It will be built at the Trafford Energy Park, eight miles south of Manchester. Carlton Highview Storage plans to develop up to four further CRYOBattery projects in the UK, totalling over 1GWh.

It received £10m grant from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to support the development of the project.

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The CryoBattery works by using electricity to cool and compress air, turning it into liquid and storing it in industrial sized containers. It then feeds the liquid through a turbine, turning it back into electricity and pumping it back into the grid when it is needed.

Harnessing storage technologies is a key part of meeting the UK’s legally-binding target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Keith Clarke, chief executive of Carlton Power said: “We looked at a variety of energy storage technologies for utility-scale, long-duration services, and selected Highview’s liquid air energy storage because it is scalable, clean, can deliver the grid services we need, and can be deployed now.

Kwasi Kwarteng, BEIS Energy and Clean Growth Minister, added: “This revolutionary new CRYOBattery facility will form a key part of our push towards net zero, bringing greater flexibility to Britain’s electricity grid and creating green collar jobs in Greater Manchester. Projects like these will help us realise the full value of our world-class renewables, ensuring homes and businesses can still be powered by green energy, even when the sun is not shining and the wind not blowing.”

Construction of the CRYOBattery is expected to start later this year and enter commercial operation in 2022.